progress
Posted by Drew | Filed under General
I think we’re making progress. Some days it’s hard to tell. We still live out of suitcases. Most of us anyway. Actually, we signed a contract today on an apartment for the 3 guys. That means by Thursday when we move in, the 8 of us who have remained in transit this entire time will finally be able to unpack. The sad news is that the Gallos, the only two of us who have been able to settle into a place, will soon be moving again because their landlord has decided that he’s uncomfortable with our current visa status. That’s a really long story, but it worked out well because there were some issues with the apartment that had us trying to think of ways to get out of the contract. Just when those issues reached a breaking point for us, their landlord, Giuseppe, came in with the news that he would prefer that we look for another place to live. It’s probably one of the most direct and clear anwers to prayer I’ve ever experienced. But that leaves them in need of finding another place. We thought there was one available right accross the hall from the one we claimed today, but by the time we realized we wanted it, it had already been rented. So please be praying that the Lord would provide a new place for the Gallos.
Connected with this story is another interesting journey we’ve had in applying for our “permits of stay” so that we can be legally registered with the government. But I’m afraid it would be either really long or really confusing for me to relay the entire story. Maybe an analogy. Picture a big gated city park, open during the day for people to come in and out as they please, some locals sit on the benches and enjoy the day, there is the group of old men who always sits and tells stories, probably the same stories each day… there’s a goldfish pond in one corner with a fountain in the middle, and there is a man nearby feeding the pigeons with yesterday’s bread. Around mid morning things are probably at their busiest, with pedestrian traffic taking the scenic route to the caffe’, a small crowd is gathered around the old men’s card game (something like half of all Italians are retired and spend their days in this sort of activity), and the guy feeding the pigeons is running low on bread. That’s a general description of life in Italy, especially southern Italy. Everything is calm and relaxed, no one is in a big hurry or seems anxious. Just like this park. Well, except the pigeons. All fighting for the same tiny piece of bread, climbing on top of one another… And at the place where we apply for our permits, the Questura, we foreigners are the pigeons. It’s an insane push to get the attention of the government employees who, at their leisure, come outside to greet the masses and give instruction or pass out documents while we bargain for attention with our eagerness and our elbows. Some are merely seeking an appointment to come back at a later date for the same memorable experience. Others are there for their scheduled appointment and are hoping to be called before the next guy so he can get back to work. I don’t really know how pigeons smell, but I do know that many cultures dont’ value cleanliness or deodorant the way we do. And I have all the evidence I’ll ever need. But eventually (usually after several hours) we get what we came for, maybe we get our appointment to come back and do it all again, or maybe we go back and fill out documents, get fingerprinted, listen to people yell in all sorts of languages, wonder what to do with the ink on our hands, and leave just grateful to be done with the process.
It’s not something I enjoy on any level. But it may be the most diverse crowd of people I’ve ever been in. People from northern Africa, the Middle East, central africa, asia, eastern europe. All with their unique appearances, their unique language. All speaking accented Italian, and all in Italy for their own reasons. I like the picture once I’m finished with the process. Other than all the frustration and the somber faces (no one enjoys the Questura) — I think this is a glimpse of what it will look like when people from every tongue and tribe and nation are gathered before the throne of God. Just a glimpse - the comparison breaks down quickly. But picture the diversity, the eagerness… Obviously there are significant differences. Before the throne there will be rejoicing, and there will be worship. Any shouting will be shouts of praise. No one will want to be anywhere else but there. No one will ever want to leave… And there will be Italians. Praise the Lord, there will be Italians! Thank you for playing a part in making that happen.
